electric radiators

clockworks_2

My flat came with an air source heat pump. For a number of reasons i am not 100% pleased with.

It is great for heating up the flat quickly , downsides are

1) It heats up the whole flat , not individual rooms at a time which is a bit pointless as i am only ever in one room at a time.
2) Not too keen on the dry heat that comes
3) Its' very hot when pumping out hot air but then as soon it stops the room feels cold again- not a constant heat or maintained


I am not keen on traditional electric heaters as again there isn't a steady heat.

i don't have a gas supply so can't do central heating.

I stumbled upon these

http://www.geyser.co.uk/variable-heat-electric-radiators-c-94_99.html

They have really caught my attention as they operate in a similar fashion to traditional central heating radiators as they heat up water inside.

Has anyone used these before? If so what's the running costs?

I will still use my air source heat pump to quickly heat up the flat and use these to maintain the heat rather than heat up a room from cold.

Anything i should watch out for before buying one of these?

thanks

Catbells

Am currently looking into an air source heat pump which sound marvellous and money saving too. Can you not turn off radiators to have control over the rooms heated? I can see it would be too hot to have it on all the time.

My neighbour's house (I was in there yesterday) was lovely and warm (under floor heating from air source) and they said they open windows if it gets too hot.

clockworks_2

Hi catbells

My air source heat pump isn't one that heats up water and then in turn radiators. Mine is more of an air con unti style one which ducts the hot or cold into each room via a vent in the ceiling .

If it was one of the ones with a rad the heat would be much more bearable.

Catbells

Sorry Clockwork - I'm not an expert but there is a massive thread on here solely on air source heat pumps which I'm wading through. Facts and figures and so on. I"m slowly going off the idea the more I hear. I hope you are at least saving a lot of money on gas and electricity!?
Here's the link.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1464827

clockworks_2

no worries. I would go for an air source heat pump as long as it heated up water which in turn heated up traditional radiators like a central heating system.

I wouldn't go for an air con style air source heat pump, the heat it produces is very dry. Saying that the newer ones are better than mine as once you room reaches the required temp they slowly pump out a little heat to maintain it , where as mine only switches on and off. It cant vary the heat it produces .

Owain_Moneysaver

clockworks wrote: »

I stumbled upon these

http://www.geyser.co.uk/variable-heat-electric-radiators-c-94_99.html

They have really caught my attention as they operate in a similar fashion to traditional central heating radiators as they heat up water inside.

Has anyone used these before? If so what's the running costs?

The electric input, running costs, and heat output are exactly the same as any other electric heater of the same wattage, provided both heat the room to the same temperature.

EG

"Flasteel" Stainless Steel VH Electric Portrait Radiator
Size (mm): 390h x 1000w
BTUs(element): 2046
Watts (element): 600
(Landscape VH Electric Radiator)
£484.00

Challenge Oil Filled Radiator (Argos 415/9201
Size H65, W77.5, D21cm.
Heat output 0.75kW. (750 Watts)
£39.99

You can buy quite a lot of electricity for £444.

clockworks_2

I know it's a money saving forum but i wanted a semi permanent solution and i do prefer the look of the geyser radiators over an oil filed portable heater.

I intend to be here for at least 2-3 years so want don't mind spending a little. I have used oil rads and i love the heat they give out , very comfortable.

Owain_Moneysaver

Personally I like the traditional Dimplex MK1 electric radiators, I think they look most like conventional radiators.

More expensive than the Argos cheapies, but still a lot cheaper than the 'designer' ones. Wall mountable too, which most of the cheapies aren't.

richardc1983

Have you tried to sort a solution with your air con unit.

Have you tried turning the fan speed onto low so that the flat doesnt heat up so quickly.

Also have you tried cleaning the filters as if these are blocked this will mean less air moves through the unit meaning the air blowing out will be hotter.

I have air to air heat pump in my flat and I do agree that when it is cold outside when the system cycles off (its too big for the house so it always cycles off) you can feel the room cooling down.

I find that with it on the lowest fan speed it takes longer to reach temperature.

I also moved the return air sensor that measures the temperature of the room as this was sitting in the warm air flow from the air outlet and making the unit think it was warmer than it was.

I moved it so it wasnt in the air flow so that it got a true reading of the actual room temperature.

You also mention you dont want to heat rooms you are not using. You should be able to close off or reduce the air vents in rooms you dont use.

Try this and see how you get on.

U are really wasting money putting in those designer electric radiators, they do the same as the cheapy electric ones but you are paying for a designer look.

clockworks_2

Hi richard

you may not rememeber but helped me out a lot with information last year when i was having problems with my unit. The problem with my unit is that it's a bespoke job for my flat (and similar blocks) and is a jumble of parts.

I spent £700 on it last year and it's playing up again. Unlike most decent units besides the fan speed you can't control much.

It has had the filters changed a little over 9 months back.

I know the designer rads do the same job as the cheaper ones, but as i am living in the flat for a few years i want to look good as well as function well.

managed to get 10% off them too (placed an order today)

richardc1983

clockworks wrote: »

Hi richard

you may not rememeber but helped me out a lot with information last year when i was having problems with my unit. The problem with my unit is that it's a bespoke job for my flat (and similar blocks) and is a jumble of parts.

I spent £700 on it last year and it's playing up again. Unlike most decent units besides the fan speed you can't control much.

It has had the filters changed a little over 9 months back.

I know the designer rads do the same job as the cheaper ones, but as i am living in the flat for a few years i want to look good as well as function well.

managed to get 10% off them too (placed an order today)

Oh yes I remember now... What is up with the system now?

9 months between filter changes is too long a time, mine are cleaned every month they build up dirt very quickly... you say the system is playing up again... if the filters are dirty the system will be overheating and compressor cutting out before reaching set point to protect itself.

Filters should be cleaned every month, and I am sure I advised this at some point last year especially a ducted unit as it is taking in air from all over the flat and not just one room. The move much more air.

I know how frustating it is to have to put money into fixing something my system is still ongoing at the moment but at least I am warm.

For the money your spending on these radiators you could have bought decent looking oil filled radiators that are wall mountable and still have had a lot of change left over.

I do think though that with you saying the system is playing up again could be down to something simple, the filters.... these can be cleaned yourself with the vacuum cleaner and a rinsing down under the shower.